Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Scholarships

The University of Montana Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program offers two $800 scholarships through the Louise Greene & Elizabeth Smith honorary awards program. The two scholarships are for excellence in either 1) academics (Spring semester) or 2) WGSS-related activism (Fall semester).

Criteria:

Open to undergraduate students with a 3.0 or higher GPA.

Students must be either a Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies major or a Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Minor. It is possible to apply for either the major or minor concurrently with the application.

Application Process:

Applicants for the scholarship are to submit the following for consideration by the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Scholarship Committee:

A letter of application specifying for which scholarship you are applying; academics (Spring) or activism (Fall), including a 300 – 350 word essay discussing your community and University activities related to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and a brief statement of your projected career goals.

2 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a WGSS affiliated faculty member.

A current transcript.

The committee requests that students collect letters of recommendation and submit them with their application packets. Please ask your references to place letters in a sealed envelope and to sign over the seal. Students who have previously been awarded a WGSS scholarship are not eligible.

The deadline for Spring 2017 applications is April 3. The next round of applcations will be due in Fall 2017.

The University of Montana Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program offers one $800 scholarship through the Louise Greene/Elizabeth Smith honorary awards program. The scholarship is awarded in the Fall of each academic year.

Criteria:

Open to WGSS Graduate Certificate seeking students.

Applicants must be officially enrolled as a certificate seeking graduate by the time of their application. It is possible to apply for the graduate certficate concurrently with the scholarship application.

Applicant must be currently working on or have completed a research paper in their field.

Application Process:

Applicants for the scholarship are to submit the following for consideration by the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Scholarship Committee:

A letter of application including a 300 – 350 word essay discussing current research and how it relates to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and projected career goals.

2 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a WGS affiliated faculty member.

A current academic transcript.

The committee requests that students collect their letters of recommendation and submit them with their application packets. Please ask your recommender to place the letter in a sealed envelope and sign over the seal. Students who have previously been awarded a WGSS scholarship are not eligible.

The deadline for Fall 2016 applications has passed. The next graduate scholarship will be available Fall 2017.

Other Scholarships

The following organizations and programs may offer scholarships for furthering students’ educational goals. Because these are not programs within WGS, students should check each organization to determine their eligibility.

Computer Science Online Guide for Women

WISP Scholarship

The objective of the Women's Independence Scholarship Program is to help survivors of intimate partner abuse obtain an education that will in turn offer them the chance to secure employment, personal independence and self sufficiency. Support is available for full or part-time students interested in attending accredited programs at educational institutions listed below, in order of preference:

AAUW Scholarships

AAUW (the American Association of University Women) is dedicated to education, and many of its branches offer scholarships. The AAUW also contributes to the Education Foundation, which supports graduate students and funds national research studies.

In Montana, the AAUW has twelve branches. Check out the AAUW of Montana website for details and possible scholarship information.

Jeanette Rankin Foundation Grant

The Jeannette Rankin Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for, and awarding grants to, low-income women, age 35 and older. Each award recipient has a vision of how a college education will benefit herself, her family, and her community. Most recipients are in truly meager financial circumstances and may have other hardships or disabilities. The Jeannette Rankin Foundation is one of the very few organizations in the country whose educational awards target this large segment of the population. Visit the Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund website for more details.

Montana Business and Professional Women Grants

The Montana BPW (Business and Professional Women) Foundation also awards scholarships to meritorious students. Applications are available on-line on the Montana BPW Foundation website, or by sending a letter of inquiry to: Montana BPW Foundation, P. O. Box 303, Great Falls, MT 59403, or by calling Faye James at (406) 265-2119.

Third Wave Foundation Scholarship

The Third Wave Foundation Scholarship Program is available to all full-time or part-time young women and transgender activists age 30 and under who are enrolled in, or have been accepted to, an accredited university, college, vocational/technical school or community college. Visit their website for more information and scholarship applications.

The Women’s Opportunity Awards, Soroptimists

The Soroptimist Club also offers scholarships. Eligible applicants must be female heads of household, who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, and cannot have already earned an undergraduate degree. Only residents of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ 18 member countries and territories are eligible to apply. For individuals interested in applying for this award, contact the Soroptimist Club near you or visit the Soroptimist International of the Americas.

Pride Foundation Scholarships﻿

Pride Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships to current and future leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and straight ally community from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Since the program began in 1993, donors and volunteers have helped Pride Foundation award over $3 million to nearly 1,200 scholars – making it one of the largest LGBTQ scholarship programs in the country. In collaboration with our scholarship partners at the Greater Seattle Business Association, we are proud to support LGBTQ and straight ally students! Together, we offer over 50 different scholarships, but only one application to complete. Pride Foundation also recognizes students who may not identify as LGBTQ, but who have contributed to the LGBTQ community. These may be the children of LGBTQ parents, or just friends of our community whose leadership skills that have demonstrated leadership in advancing LGBTQ equality. For more information please visit the Pride Foundation website.